Improvement in broadcast seed-sowee



w. H. & L F. MlTCHELL;

l Broadcast Seeder.

Patehted Oct. 6, 1868.

Fig. Z.

W; H. MITGLIELLAND .I. F. MITCHELL, or MAGOMB, ILLINOIS.

Letters PatentNo. 82,862-, dated October 6, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN BROADCAST SEED-SOWER.

itin Stlgehnle referrer tu in tigers trttets rttut mit' mittag pitt nt itt stmt.

TO ALL'WHOM IT MAY Y ()Ol\T(}ERI\I:

` Be itknown that we, W. H.`MITGHELL and J. F. MITCHELL, of Macomb, in the county ofMcDonough, and

State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Broadcast lSeed-sewers; and wedo hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this'specitieation, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To 'enable others. skilled in the art to'eonstruet and use ourinvention, we will proceed to describe it.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in that class of machines used for sowing small grains broadcast; and the invention consists- First, in a `device for stirring the grain in the Ahopperto prevent clogging.

Second, in a novel construction of the scattering-device, and A Third, in a novel arrangement of the slides for regulating the feed, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine, andv Figure 2 is a vertical section, ltaken on the line x-x of tig. 1. v

In constructing our improved machine, we first provide a frame, consisting of two horizontal pieces,iC B, united at their back by a vertical piece, A, uponl the top of which, at one end, is lmounted a hopper, H, as usualin these machines. At the opposite end, we mount a vertical shaft, T, having a. series of pulleys, P, attached, as represented in tig. 2. To this shaft we secure a compound or double crank, R, with a handle, b, for operating it.y To the neck e of this crank we connect a couple of wires or small rods, t", which extend to and pass through small holes in the the hopper, over the o riee o, through which the grain i that when the crank is turned, these rods e will be move imparting to their inner ends a continuous and corresponding movement, eiectually preventing its clogging, and causing it to feed with regularity and an even ilow.

The form of the mouth or orice through which the grain passes from the hopper to the scatterer is represented by o, fig. 1, and upon the piece C are secured two slides or gates, I and j', as shown in fig. 1. These slides are so arranged that each one will close one-half of the oriii'ce when shoved in, and, as each can be moved independent of the other, the orifice can be closed on one side or vthe other to one-half its extent or capacity, as may be desired, or, by shoving in both together, it may be closed entirely, and thus-shut off rthe iiow of the grain entirely. By this arrangement of the slides, the grain may be fed down at either side ofthe shaft Gr into the scattcrer L, as desired, and the oriiice can also be adjusted to adapt the machine to sowing diierent kinds of grain, and to regulating the quantity at will.

Our improved scattere'r or distributor consists of a piece of-sheet metal, having ahole kcut inits centre of proper size to admit the shaft G up to the shoulder n, to which it is iirmly secured by'screws, or in any suitable manner. The sides are then bent up and brought together at the top for some distance from each end, thus forming two tubular spouts, tapering towards their outer ends, which are left open.

Around the shaft G, at the top, the distributor is cut away, as shown at m, fig. 2,-ard by the dotted line in iig. 1, to form an opening into or through which the grain falls as'it passes from the hopper. The distributer is driven by a cord from the pulley P, and, as the grain falls into the distributor, the centrifugal motion of the latter scatters it evenly over the ground.

The grain is fed to the hopper 'H through a flexible tube, O, which is attachedto the hopper by a sleeve, I,

having slots, l, cut in it, and engaging over pins, a, as shown in iig. 2. The frame is provided at its ends with s-fed, as shown more clearly in iig. It Vwill be seen dl around with the neck e at their outer ends, thereby -knobs, t', to which straps are fastened, for holding it upon the body of the person using it.

By these improvements, we are enabled to produce a machine that operates in superior manner.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, vis- 1. The stirrers c, operated by the compound crank R, when arranged to operate substantially as described 2. The distributor L, constructed and arranged to operate-substantially as set forth.

3. Tlie two slides, t andf, arranged' to be operated independently or jointly, as herein described.

Y W. H. MITCHELL.

J. F. MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

W. E. WITIIRQW, H. W. GAsII.

side of the hopper H, and having their ends terminate near the centre of l thus keeping the grain stirred up, and 

